Grand Rapids energy solutions company aids independent grocers, aims to add jobs

Deborah Johnson Wood

In the last six months, Grand Rapids-based Vantaura Energy Services has honed its market to a fine point, bringing energy efficient products and the resulting cost savings to independent grocers in an effort to help them stay competitive. Company leaders say the refined focus has increased sales and created jobs, with the possibility of more jobs on the way.

Vantaura distributes, installs and services energy efficient systems that include LED lighting and high efficiency motors for refrigerated cases, and heat controllers for freezer doors. The company is also the exclusive North American distributor for Cork, Ireland-based Nualight products.

Vantaura President Bryan Houck says nearly three-quarters of a typical store's energy usage is lighting and refrigeration, and new technologies can increase energy efficiency up to 60 percent.

"Large grocers have engineering departments and energy managers to move forward on these new technologies," Houck says. "What we're finding is that the independent grocer is left behind."

Houck says there are as many as 15 manufacturers of energy products, and independent grocers simply don't have the time or knowledge to figure out which products will help them most. Vantaura does a needs assessment, and recommends a systems package solution.

The solution might include replacing old fan motors with high-efficiency models and replacing heat generating fluorescent bulbs with cool-running LEDs.

"Just between these two products we can take power consumption on a refrigerated case and cut it by 35 to 50 percent," Houck says. "Our projects typically can come in with a 12-month to 28-month ROI. The cost to do nothing is significant."

The company employs 10, and Houck says they are filling positions now for sales reps and licensed technicians. Sales are double what they were at this time in 2009, and he says the firm "stands a good chance of doubling payroll in next 12 months."

Source: Bryan Houck, Vantaura Energy Services; Suzette Garvey, Simply Genuine Communications

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].